Handwritten letters from Abraham Lincoln and his assassin, John Wilkes Booth, headline RR Auction's latest online sale, which is now open for bidding.

The letter is a fantastic display of Lincoln's handwriting

The sale focuses on civil war-era memorabilia and will close on July 25.

The letter penned by Abraham Lincoln is dated July 30, 1862, in the midst of the US civil war. It sees the president writing to the then secretary of war, Edwin M Stanton, stating:

"Col. John N Purviance, of Penn., wishes to be a Pay-master of Vols, and I wish him to have the place, if there be any vacancy not already promised."

John Purviance was a deputy attorney general, who is noted for recruiting a company of men for service in the Thirteenth Volunteer Regiment, with whom he served as the elected lieutenant colonel.

His good service to the Union Army earned him several prominent appointments, including the one detailed above.

A superbly written, bold letter from Lincoln, it is in fantastic condition and is signed "A. Lincoln" at the foot of the page. It is currently selling at $8,166.

The letter from John Wilkes Booth sees the busy actor addressing his friend Joseph H Simmons in November 1861.

Simmons frequently lent Booth money as his career declined during the civil war, and inadvertently contributed funds to Booth's abortive plot to kidnap the president in March 1864.

He was later summoned to testify about their financial dealings during the Lincoln conspirators' trial in May 1865. The letter is currently selling for $6655.

Paul Fraser Collectibles is offering for sale a very exciting Abraham Lincoln item - the original wallpaper from his bedroom wall.